Brave Broncos Don't Weather Storm

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The Melbourne Storm have defeated the NRMA Insurance Broncos 15-8 in a low scoring affair at Suncorp Stadium.

In front of a bumper crowd of 44,015 the Storm ran in three tries to one, but despite the loss, Brisbane will still finish second on the NRL Ladder and be rewarded with a home game in the first week of the Finals.

The defeat capped off a tumultuous week at Red Hill in which injury and suspension caused a raft of changes to the side, in what was veteran Justin Hodges' last regular season game at home.

Brisbane also said farewell to 2006 Premiership winning player David Stagg and welcomed Ash Taylor to the First Grade big time.

The night ended early in the first half for Taylor who left the field with a broken left hand injury to take no further part in the game.

The Broncos can take confidence into the Finals after having their depth tested finishing the game with only two on the bench, as fullback Darius Boyd also departed as a precaution for concussion.

Storm centre Kurt Mann scored the first try of the second half in the 53rd minute, reaping the benefits of a fortuitous bounce from a Melbourne aerial raid to score under the posts.

The game was on a knife-edge with the Broncos needing to be the next to score to stay within striking distance.

Brisbane were able to hit back to within a converted try after capitalizing on a Hodges offload when Jack Reed scored out wide to set up a tense final 15 minutes.

With time running out, the Broncos' chances of winning were on life support when fullback Darius Boyd was escorted down the tunnel for a possible concussion.

In the 71st minute, Storm half Cooper Cronk put the icing on the cake adding a field goal to extend the lead to seven points.

Brisbane now needed to score twice to win the match and in the end, they didn’t have the finesse to come back from the dead.

Corey Parker provided the first scoring points of the first half knocking over a penalty after Anthony Milford was hit late in the process of kicking.

Brisbane showed their hand early in typical Wayne Bennett style, sounding out that they were ready for a tight-scoring scrap.

In the 20th minute, Mann was able to score in the left-hand corner as the Broncos weren’t able to hold their line and keep their shape out wide.

The script looked set to follow the two side’s earlier clash this season, with Brisbane defending stoically - repelling Storm wave after wave as they were able to force repeat sets.

In the 35th minute, the Broncos were gifted another shot at goal from right in front which Parker directed over the black dot to lock the scores up at 4-all.

But Melbourne struck late in the shadows of half-time through centre Will Chambers and despite being behind five to two in the penalty count, took a four point advantage into the break.

The first half was a tight affair and showed both defences were not willing to give an inch in the lead up to the NRL Finals Series.